Who are Monique and Max Burger?
Monique Burger started the Burger Collection in the late 1990s, following a successful career in private banking and headhunting in Switzerland and Germany. Her key concerns for the collection are to cultivate artistic dialogue, assume responsibility for the works of the collection, conserve the collection, and promote a vision for the future of the collection.
Max Burger serves as the CEO of Golien, an investment company based in Hong Kong, and is also an avid art enthusiast. Graduating in economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland and holding an MBA from Harvard Business School, Max, along with his wife, actively supports various art institutions and museums worldwide.
Monique and Max Burger are patrons and supporters of many different institutions and museums. Monique Burger is on the advisory committee of Asia Society Hong Kong and New York. She is a member of the Art Basel Global Patrons Council and since 2018 she is on the board of M+ Museum, Hong Kong.
Initiating their collection in the early 1990s, Swiss collectors Monique and Max Burger have focused on acquiring works from internationally acclaimed artists spanning Europe, the United States, and Asia. Residing in Hong Kong since 2005, their interest has evolved into a dedicated passion for collecting contemporary Asian art. Presently, their collection boasts over 1000 works by 120 artists, some of whom have gained international acclaim, making their pieces highly sought after and challenging to acquire.
Similar to many collectors, the Burgers have evolved into dedicated philanthropists, contributing their time, money, and resources to numerous organizations. While these organizations may not directly align with their collecting pursuits, they are integral to their aspiration to contribute to the avant-garde movement. Monique serves on the Board of Directors of AAA (Asia Art Archive), an organization committed to archiving and disseminating research materials related to contemporary Asian art. Additionally, she is a member of the advisory board of Art HK, a burgeoning art fair that many anticipate will become the foremost contemporary art fair in Asia.
The Burger collection
The Burger Collection is a private collection of contemporary art based in Hong Kong. This collection features a wide range of artworks, including pieces from Euro-American, Indian, and Asian art. The collection is known for its diverse and curated selection of contemporary artistic expressions. The collection has embraced a distinctive curatorial approach, extending its reach to a broader audience. Collaborating with local institutions and individuals globally, the collection has entered into partnerships, fostering site-specific works with artists both within and beyond its holdings.
The Burgers initiated their art journey modestly in 1979 with the purchase of a David Hockney poster. Their serious commitment to collecting began in the 1990s, acquiring art during frequent travels, a practice that continues today. For the Burgers, collecting art from distant corners of India or China is a meaningful way to establish a profound connection with the cultures they visit and explore.
Today the collection comprises over 1000 works created by 120 artists, including notable names such as Atul Dodiya, Wim Delvoye, Tracy Emin, Gang Zhao, Ryan Gander, Chitra Ganesh, Gilbert and George, Douglas Gordon, N.S. Harsha, Zarina Hashmi, Jitish Kallat, Reena Saini Kallat, Bharti Kher, Liu Wei, Nalini Malani, Vik Muniz, Shirin Neshat, Julian Opie, Richard Prince, Mithu Sen, and Ranbir Kaleka, among others.
In 2009, Monique Burger made the decision to introduce her collection to a wider audience through a self-funded four-part exhibition called 'Quadrilogy.' Curated by Daniel Kurjaković, the exhibition and ongoing research project focus on four aesthetic ideas: Subjectivity, History, Narration, and Language. The debut 'Conflicting Tales, Subjectivity' in Berlin marks just the commencement of a four-part exhibition cycle, extending to Brussels, Mumbai, and Hong Kong. Alongside this significant curatorial effort, The Burger Collection has organized seminars, including AAA's Backroom Conversations at ART Hong Kong and the self-hosted 'Showing Without Telling' seminar in Switzerland. Additionally, they have launched Torrent magazine and serve as patrons for Para/Site and AAA (Asia Art Archive) in Hong Kong, KHOJ Alternative Space in New Delhi, and the Kunsthalle Zürich.
Burger collection actively supports and collaborates with numerous institutions and museums worldwide, including Para/Site in Hong Kong, KHOJ Alternative Space in New Delhi, India, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington DC, USA, Museo Tamayo in Mexico, The Drawing Center in New York, USA, Hong Kong Art Gallery Association (HKAGA) in Hong Kong, Kunsthalle in Zurich, Switzerland, Hong Kong Museum of Art, M+ Museum in Hong Kong, Lincoln Center in New York, USA, C&G Artpartment in Hong Kong, Haus Konstruktiv in Zurich, Switzerland, Palais du Tokyo in Paris, France, Asia Art Archive in Hong Kong, and documenta in Kassel, Germany. Monique Burger holds a board position at the Swiss Institute Contemporary Art in New York, USA, and M+ Museum in Hong Kong.
Selena Mattei
